Fluidic Telescope Experiment (FLUTE): to the ISS and beyond, Year 2

Completed TRL 4 (started at 3, targeting 4)

Description

Demonstrate fabrication of optical components aboard the ISS using pre-made frames and perform detailed analysis of the components back on Earth and perform engineering analysis of options for deployment of large bounding frames in space.

Benefits

Leverages surface-tension phenomena in microgravity to shape liquid into a desired optical form with sub-nanometer surface quality and without continuous spinning, bounding membranes, or application of external forces.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Optical Components
Program	Center Innovation Fund: ARC CIF (ARC CIF)
Lead organization	Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Start date	2021-10-01
End date	2022-09-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Edward Balaban — edward.balaban@nasa.gov
Anthony Colaprete — anthony.colaprete-1@nasa.gov
Christine E Gregg — christine.e.gregg@nasa.gov
Howard Cannon — Howard.N.Cannon@nasa.gov
Jay A Bookbinder — jay.bookbinder@nasa.gov
Kenneth C Cheung — kenny@nasa.gov
Ruslan Belikov — ruslan.belikov-1@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.